Hawthorn Cologne: Legit Or A Scam?

There are a plethora of colognes on the market, but is Hawthorne Cologne worth buying? This direct-to-consumer brand offers a range of custom fragrances and bathroom essentials tailored to individual needs and preferences. With its unique approach to personalisation, the brand has garnered attention from top publications like GQ, Forbes, and Vanity Fair. But is it legit?

How does the Hawthorne cologne quiz work?

The Hawthorne cologne quiz is a 21-question quiz that helps the company get to know your lifestyle and preferences to choose the right fragrance for you. The quiz covers a range of categories, from the clearly pertinent, such as your skin type and grooming habits, to the less obviously relevant, like your favourite drink and ideal night out.

The quiz is designed to collect the data needed to tailor the product to each recipient. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like, but this defeats the purpose of finding the right cologne for you. The quiz is not mandatory, but it helps Hawthorne match you with a cologne that suits your personality and lifestyle.

The quiz has a variety of base formulas that can be mixed and matched with various fragrances. The results of the quiz will determine the two recommended colognes for you to purchase for $100. You can also purchase a body set of deodorant and wash/soap for $34, or $30 with a subscription, and a hair set of shampoo and conditioner for $38, or $34 with a subscription. If you buy all six products with a subscription, the total comes to $144.

What are the different types of Hawthorne cologne?

Hawthorne offers a range of colognes, each with its own unique scent profile and designed to cater to different preferences and occasions. Here are some of the different types of Hawthorne colognes:

Sophisticated and Spicy Oud Cologne

This cologne is described as rich, warm, and captivating, featuring rare agarwood, Seville orange, and Egyptian geranium notes. It is perfect for special adventures and has a woody and aromatic depth. It is also known for its longevity, with customers reporting that it lasts for several hours or even an entire day with just a couple of sprays.

Work Cologne

The Work cologne is designed for more serious occasions and has fresh, citrusy, and woody notes. It is meant to be subtle yet long-lasting, with a sandalwood and cedar base that lingers even after the fresh top notes fade.

Play Cologne

The Play cologne is a bit lighter and more playful than the Work cologne, making it ideal for a night out. It shares a similar wood base but adds more citrus and spice notes. While it is not as powerful as the Work cologne, it still offers a pleasant fragrance that lasts for a good duration.

Woody Bergamot Cologne

The Woody Bergamot cologne seems to be a more subtle fragrance, with customers noting that it is not as strong or deep as they expected. It appears to be more of a traditional cologne scent that blends in rather than standing out.

Aromatic and Woody Cologne

This cologne falls under the "Modern Signature Scents" category and is described as having woody and fresh notes. It is likely to be a refreshing and invigorating scent, perfect for everyday use.

Customized Colognes

Hawthorne's unique selling point is its customized colognes. They offer a 21-question quiz that covers various aspects, from skin type and grooming habits to personal preferences and lifestyle. Based on the responses, they create tailored colognes, ensuring that the fragrance suits the individual's personality and tastes.

What are the key fragrance notes of Hawthorne cologne?

The key fragrance notes of Hawthorne cologne vary depending on the individual's preferences and lifestyle. The brand offers two types of cologne: "Work" and "Play", each with distinct scents that cater to different occasions.

The "Work" cologne is described as having citrus and woody notes, with a fresh and aromatic scent that lasts for around seven hours. The fragrance is crafted by perfumers with experience in creating scents for luxury brands such as Ralph Lauren, Balenciaga, and Dior. The "Play" cologne, on the other hand, has more citrus and spice notes with a wood base, lasting for about five to six hours. It is a lighter fragrance with a less intense projection.

Both colognes have high concentrations of essential oils, ranging from 10% to 15%, which places them in the eau-de-toilette category. This contributes to their longevity and subtle presence.

In addition to the colognes, Hawthorne also offers other customised products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and deodorant. The deodorant is noted for its mild, refreshing scent of mint and eucalyptus, while the body wash has a similar minty fragrance and a creamy lather. The shampoo is designed to address specific hair concerns, such as dry scalp, and incorporates natural ingredients like peppermint oil.

Overall, Hawthorne's fragrances are tailored to the individual, with an emphasis on quality and longevity. The brand's unique approach to customisation through an extensive quiz ensures that each fragrance suits the customer's preferences and lifestyle.

How long does Hawthorne cologne last?

According to a reviewer, the Hawthorne cologne called "Work" lasted an average of seven hours on the three days he tested it. The fresh notes faded around hour four or five, but the woody mid-tones and base notes lingered. On the other hand, the cologne called "Play" lasted an average of five and a half hours. The citrus notes faded in about two hours, while the spice notes held on until hour four. By hour five, only the lingering wood base notes remained.

The reviewer also put the colognes to the ultimate test by helping a friend with an all-day move in the North Carolina summer heat. After seven hours, there was still a lingering hint of sandalwood.

Hawthorne's fragrances are between 10%-15% concentration of essential oils, which falls into the eau-de-toilette range. This concentration strikes a nice balance between making a statement and staying subtle.

The reviewer also noted that the colognes were tailored to his body and lifestyle, and he was excited to give them a try. He started with one spray, which is recommended when trying a cologne for the first time. This allows you to get a feel for its strength and how it transforms throughout the day. If it dies out too quickly, you can go for two sprays the next day.

Overall, the reviewer was impressed with the longevity of the Hawthorne colognes, especially considering their relatively low concentration of essential oils.

What are the reviews of Hawthorne cologne like?

The reviews for Hawthorne cologne are mostly positive. The brand's unique selling point is that its colognes are customised to the user's personality, preferences and lifestyle. The brand's website has a collective pool of reviews, with 3,236 customers rating Hawthorne 5/5 stars.

One review from The Adult Man gives the cologne a positive review, stating that the "fragrances were a good value. Great, high-quality product made with care and experience at half the cost." The reviewer goes on to say that the cologne "won my seal of approval on the first spray". Another review from Reddit also praises the cologne, saying that it is "definitely some of the higher-quality fragrances that I own now". The reviewer goes on to say that the cologne "lasts a really long time. I can put some on in the morning (on my wrists and neck), take a shower at night, and literally still smell a hint of it the next morning".

A review from The Strategist is also positive, stating that the cologne "worked" and that the reviewer has "spritzed it on pretty much every day since it arrived". The reviewer also praises the brand's customer service, saying that the brand will "re-tailor" or exchange anything that the customer is not happy with.

A review from Honest Brand Reviews compiles reviews from The Adult Man, Reddit and the brand's website. The review states that "happy shoppers write of great customer service and enjoyable scents". One review quoted in the article says that the "limited edition spring scent 'Wild and Botanic' is absolutely amazing". The review also mentions that negative comments are "few and far between", with the main issue being that some men didn't like the first cologne they were recommended. However, the review notes that the brand worked with the customers to find their perfect blend.

The Honest Brand Reviews article concludes by saying that "the brand makes great, high-quality colognes for affordable prices, and yes, they are worth the buy".

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